Guyker or other Headless hardware - Starting point

[chinjazz]

I used a different Guyker bridge for my conversion, it's a bit heavier than I expected but it works very well. I have had good luck with Guyker parts, tuners, bridges and pickups on several of my basses as well a some assembled for customers.

Guyker CNC-Machined 5-String Locking Adjustable Headless Bass Bridge WB005

Shop Guyker WB005 5-string headless bass bridge with string lock, CNC-machined build, and slightly adjustable 18mm spacing. Verify fit before ordering.

www.guyker.com

Looks like there is a newer version in aluminum and available in different colors. Guyker WBA-005 Lightweight CNC Aluminum Alloy Headless Bass Bridge with Brass Saddles

With that Aluminum version it does look like they tweaked or improved on the design a bit. Hmmm, I like lighter weight for sure.

 

[chinjazz]

I used the Guyker headless system on one of mine. It seems quite good, though it's not a bass I play a lot.

S

Post in thread 'Winter Build Off 2024 - Twisted Essence of Suffering'

Feb 28, 2024

This is my entry for Winter Build Off 2024 - Twisted Essence of Suffering or Best Bass for Doors

Specs
5 string, 34" scale
10mm spacing at the nut and 18mm at the bridge
Single passive Jazz pickup in a slidable pod
3 piece set neck and 3 piece body and fretboard made from a reclaimed door, possibly Khaya or Honduran Mahogany
2837g or 6lbs 4 oz
Guyker headless bridge and headpiece

Aims
I wanted to make something original, something that looked bent and folded. I also wanted to challenge the conventional way a bass should look. A bass needs a place to rest against the players...

• smart51

• 

That is a great design!!! Congrats on that bass!!

 

[Tj smith]

I just sanded the body a bit for my hand to fit in. I left the lower part of the body on instead of cutting it off to protect the tuners. I sanded it more then the current pic.

 

[MPU]

I’ve used headless components from Nova, Steinberger, ETS, ABM, Hipshot and Riviera.

Riviera is by far my favorite, but requires some precise routing for the tuners and the headpieces. And they are not cheap.
View attachment 7433997View attachment 7433998
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That’s my opinion too. Riviera is great, but requires some precise routing. It’s worth it.

 

[Bonkersville]

Thanks for the info on the Riviera. Do they use a ball end in the tuner? Or do you simply push the string as far down as it goes? I didn't find any info on their website on how these operate. The site also works so slow that I might not have looked at every possible page.

I've been planning a headless build with ball ends at the nut. And the Riviera single bridge design looks great.

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

The ball end is in tuner

 

[Barticus]

Thanks for the info on the Riviera. Do they use a ball end in the tuner? Or do you simply push the string as far down as it goes? I didn't find any info on their website on how these operate. The site also workshop so slow that I might not have looked at every possible page.

I've been planning a headless build with ball ends at the nut. And the Riviera single bridge design looks great.

Here’s how the string feeds up through from the back of the bass, the ball fits into the tuner.

Here’s what their routing template looks like if you’re not using CNC.

 

[Bonkersville]

So it seems that I have to look elsewhere or change the nut end design. The Riviera locking clamping things look nice too. And nicely priced. That's a solid 80€ per string for a guitar. For the tuner and clamp that is.

But again, the design seems solid and should allow fast string changes and stable tuning.

 

[MPU]

I don’t know any other ball end in the nut end- headless systems than NS Design WAV basses and their tuner block is plastic which I don’t like at all.

 

[Bonkersville]

There are at least the cheap Chinese ones that use a hex screw for locking the string. I don't know if the Guyker uses the same design or not. But that propably is not the most user friendly design.

The more I think about it the better the Riviera system seems. Ball end to the bridge, pull the string tight through the clamp at the nut end, tighten the thumb screw and tune. Just like a regular bridge with locking tuners.

 

[Alex Xander]

Thanks for the info on the Riviera. Do they use a ball end in the tuner? Or do you simply push the string as far down as it goes? I didn't find any info on their website on how these operate. The site also works so slow that I might not have looked at every possible page.

I've been planning a headless build with ball ends at the nut. And the Riviera single bridge design looks great.

I don’t know any other ball end in the nut end- headless systems than NS Design WAV basses and their tuner block is plastic which I don’t like at all.

I have used these one two builds recently. They are setup to anchor ar either end.

Single Tuning Bridge for Bass – Apollo Music Parts

www.apollomusicparts.com

I used ferrules in the back of the headstock and there's a grub screw to contain the string at the tuner end.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

There are at least the cheap Chinese ones that use a hex screw for locking the string. I don't know if the Guyker uses the same design or not. But that propably is not the most user friendly design.

The more I think about it the better the Riviera system seems. Ball end to the bridge, pull the string tight through the clamp at the nut end, tighten the thumb screw and tune. Just like a regular bridge with locking tuners.

That’s pretty much what I do with any headless system that locks the strings at one or both ends. Get the ball end seated enough to stay, pull the other end of the string tight, sometimes using some needle nose pliers for unwound guitar strings, then lock it down.

 

[MPU]

I have used these one two builds recently. They are setup to anchor ar either end.

NS Radius headless system does not take ball ends at the tuner. They take normal strings.

 

[Beej]

@Barticus what's the depth of the long piece that goes into the body on the Riviera? I'd like to try these, but I make thin bodies.

 

[razboinikoff]

Hi everyone, I am on a similar path - looking for a headless hardware for a 30" headless travel bass that I want to build for myself.
This guy offers good looking hardware and I saw several times good comments about the quality on European forums and chats:

https://www.instagram.com/aldridgeempire

I have no relation with the company, but probably I will order his monorail bridges for my project.

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

@Barticus what's the depth of the long piece that goes into the body on the Riviera? I'd like to try these, but I make thin bodies.

I built my bass with the riviera tuners in August, the tuner bits reach about 30mm into the body. I didn't make a cover for them, please see attached picture (bass is about 38mm thick)

 

[Barticus]

@Barticus what's the depth of the long piece that goes into the body on the Riviera? I'd like to try these, but I make thin bodies.

I only route a hole big enough to feed the string through on the bottom for each tuner, no cover necessary.

Bass Bridge

SHOP NOW INFO FAQ CONTACT US Introducing the RIVIERA Headless Bass Bridge, a revolutionary advancement in the world of headless bass guitars. This innovative bridge, featuring a patented tuning system…

rivieragear.com

 

[Phreaky Phriday]

I only route a hole big enough to feed the string through on the bottom for each tuner, no cover necessary.

Bass Bridge

SHOP NOW INFO FAQ CONTACT US Introducing the RIVIERA Headless Bass Bridge, a revolutionary advancement in the world of headless bass guitars. This innovative bridge, featuring a patented tuning system…

rivieragear.com

View attachment 7435863

View attachment 7435864

How did you handle the ground? I drilled individually between the top-of-body routes and it came out fairly messy but is well-hidden

 

[MovinTarget]

I did a write up on this particular Guyker system a while back:

Thread 'Guyker 4 String Headless Bass Bridge (and headpiece) report!'

Jun 22, 2024

Those of you that use headless systems know it can get kinda nuts. You have cheap pot-metal Steinberger knockoffs (lookin at you, Overlord of Music) some mid-market options with different options like string through, backloaded Nova that are light weight and feel nice, but might be kind of hard to dial in for height and intonation...

Then you have the Hipshots, ABMs, and boutique sets.

So inherently you have a lot of challenges cramming all the functionality of a conventional bridge *plus* tuning into a headless system and different companies try to address this different ways... One...

• MovinTarget
• Replies: 42
• Forum: Hardware, Setup & Repair [BG]

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[chinjazz]

All, thanks for all the amazing / honest feedback. My plan was to make a headless design work with a current build (for myself).
This is a 32" scale fun playing build. I decided to wait for a new build due to so many added design decisions that resulted.

I am encouraged that there are many more options available, some higher end original designs, and of course some copies/influced by other designs.
Having spend the last few years with CAD I've become more interested in making my own bridges. Not necessarily headless based ones.
Also there are some viable options for sourcing manufactures who output from CAD. CNC or even 3D print. These are good times! - my 2 cents.